Sculpting and Handbuilding
Handbuilding with clay offers a unique opportunity to experiment, requires few tools, and allows your intuition and imagination to come to the fore. In this overview of the most popular of ceramic forming methods, artist Claire Loder explains the time-honored methods of handbuilding, as well as introducing a fascinating array of new approaches of contemporary… Read More »
Slab Techniques
Slab Techniques covers all the basics, such as making your
slabs and joining well, simple building methods, use of supports,
creating textures, decorating with slips and ways to avoid disasters
during firing. It also looks at many innovative and original approaches,
as well as building large-scale pieces and the problems associated with
it. The book aims to encourage the artist to experiment and find the
methods most suited to them, while fantastic images of finished work are
to sow what is possible.
Using a Pottery Wheel to Make Cool Slab Built Pottery
Most of us don’t think of the pottery wheel when we think about making slabs. But there’s no reason to overlook this piece of equipment when slabbuilding. The pottery wheel can yield some pretty cool results as you can see in the image to the left. In today’s post, an excerpt from his book From a Slab of Clay, Daryl Baird explains how you can use the wheel to make a slab with a spiral texture, which is quite challenging with any other method. – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.
Layers of Information: How to Build Surface Texture Layer by Layer
Today, Annie Chrietzberg explains how Lana Wilson uses bisque stamps, textured materials, rolling, and paddling to create layered texture on her work. She also explains her darting technique for creating a slab-built platter.
Assembly Required
In this video, Jake Allee demonstrates the various ways he cuts up and alters thrown forms and puts them back together again to make interesting vessels. Throughout the process, Jake explains the design decisions he incorporates to hold the pieces together. In addition, he explains how sketching plays a role in his work, keeping his mind engaged in the creative process.
From a Slab of Clay
Working with clay slabs offers more opportunities than any other forming process. In Daryl Baird’s new book, you’ll find everything you need to get started from setting up a proper working space to selecting the right tools and equipment—including complete instructions for building your own slab roller—Daryl doesn’t miss any details to assure your success.
Video of the Week: How to Make a Freeform Handbuilt Serving Tray with a Faux Foot
Gail Kendall has a fantastic ability to manipulate clay that seems too soft to form with. Time and time again during the filming of her new video From Plate to Tureen: Slab and Coil Building, I thought to myself “there’s no way that is going to work!” But time and time again, Gail pulled off what I thought was impossible! In today’s video, Gail demonstrates the unconventional method she uses to make trays and platters with what she calls faux feet. I love the low-tech simplicity of this method – all you need are a slab, a coil, and your hands (plus lots of practice to get it to work with such soft clay!). – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.
Slab and Coil Building
NEW DVD – NOW SHIPPING!
From Plate to Tureen: Slab and Coil Building
In this installment of the Ceramic Arts Daily Presents Video Series, Gail Kendall presents her “low-tech” techniques for fabricating beautiful plates, platters, bowls, and tureens using bisque molds, soft slabs, and coils. Starting with the basics, Gail explains how to make structurally sound coil-built molds, and then uses those molds to make a variety of forms. In addition, she demonstrates her sgraffito techniques on soft slip, as well as her glazing process.
Second DIY Clay Tools Video Contest – Finalist 2
Today, we are happy to present the next finalist in our DIY Clay Tools Video Contest: Catherine Reis and her multi-purpose slab cutter on the cheap. We’ll present the last finalist Friday, September 28. A link to the voting page for the grand prize winner will also be posted on Friday, and voting will continue through midnight (Eastern Standard Time) Monday, October 1. Stay tuned for the winner announcement on Wednesday, October 3! We’ll announce the lucky winner of the Ricoh 430DN Digital Ceramic Printer from Digital Ceramic Technologies on Wednesday, October 3. We hope you enjoy these videos as much as we have!
How to Make a Platter Using a Slump Mold
Slab building is one of the most exciting ways to make work with clay. And if you prefer more instant gratification than you can get from a wheel, slab building is a great way to go. Finding slump and hump molds in interesting shapes at thrift shops and dollar stores is a great way to build with slabs. In today’s post, an excerpt from our latest free download A Guide to Slab Rollers Tips for Buying or Building a Slabroller, and Three Slab Pottery Projects, Daryl Baird shares a simple platter project from a found slump mold.
